DIY PILLOW COVERS | INVISIBLE ZIPPER TUTORIAL | SPRING HOME DECOR, by She Makes 31 on YouTube. 19 min 24 s.
- Video length
- 19 min 24 s
- Time to do it
- 45 minutes
- Difficulty
- Easy
- Steps
- 10
What you need
Steps
Measure your pillow insert and cut two fabric squares the same size, for example 18 x 18 inches for an 18 inch insert. Cut them carefully so the edges line up.
Press both squares flat with a hot iron. Wrinkles left in now turn into puckers once the cover is sewn.
Lay one square right side down. Mark the zipper opening along one edge, centred, using the zipper length as your guide.
Fit the invisible zipper foot to your machine. Unzip the zipper and press the coil open with your fingers or a cool iron.
Place the open zipper right side down on the marked edge, with the coil sitting in the foot's groove. Stitch down one side, stopping at the pull.
Zip the zipper closed, flip the tape over, and stitch the second side the same way. Backstitch at both ends of each row.
Open the zipper halfway. Place the second square right sides together with the first and clip around three sides, leaving the zipped edge free.
Sew those three sides with a half inch seam allowance. Clip the corners diagonally, close to the stitching but not through it.
Finish the raw edges with a zigzag stitch or overlocker. Turn the cover right side out through the open zip.
Push out the corners with a chopstick, press the seams, and insert the pillow through the zipper.
Tips and common mistakes
Buy a zipper a couple of inches longer than the opening and shorten it, which makes the foot easier to guide.
Press the zipper tape only, never the plastic teeth, or they melt and distort.
Backstitch firmly at both ends of the zip so the seam does not split when you stuff the pillow.
Test the fit before trimming seams, since some inserts are fuller than their label says.
Questions
What size fabric do I need for an 18 inch pillow?
Cut two 18 x 18 inch squares for a snug cover, or add half an inch all round for a looser fit. Always measure the insert itself rather than trusting the packet.
Do I need a special presser foot?
Yes, an invisible zipper foot has two grooves underneath that hold the coil open while you stitch close to it. A standard foot works but the zip will show.
Why is my invisible zipper visible?
You probably stitched too far from the coil. Sew as close as the foot allows, and check the result before trimming the seam allowance.
This guide was drafted from the video's details and general task knowledge. It has not been checked against the full video. Check the video and relevant product instructions before following a procedure. Report a correction.
